How the Thunder Took Down the Nuggets: Wallace’s Clutch, Dort’s Fire, and Caruso’s Defensive Masterclass
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run against the Denver Nuggets wasn’t just a battle-it was a coming-of-age story. Down 2-1 in the series and staring elimination in the face, OKC found a way to flip the script. From Cason Wallace’s fearless shooting to Luguentz Dort’s microwave scoring and Alex Caruso’s defensive wizardry on the reigning MVP, Nikola Jokić, the Thunder didn’t just survive-they imposed their will.
Let’s break down how they did it.
Game 4: The Turning Point
Game 4 was the pivot. The Nuggets were in control-up 2-1 in the series, leading 73-66 with just under 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Thunder’s season was teetering. And then, something clicked.
Oklahoma City rattled off an 11-0 run that completely shifted the energy in the building. Cason Wallace, the rookie with ice in his veins, buried two massive threes.
Aaron Wiggins joined the party with a deep ball of his own. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso added a pair of free throws to cap off the run.
But it wasn’t just the offense-it was the defense that made this stretch special.
The Thunder locked in on that end, suffocating the Nuggets and forcing them into a string of contested, low-percentage looks. Denver couldn’t buy a bucket, and OKC made them pay.
By the 6:30 mark, the Thunder had flipped the scoreboard and led 77-73. From there, Shai took over.
He poured in eight points in the next four minutes, keeping Denver at bay and sealing a critical win. It was the kind of gut-check moment that defines playoff runs-OKC’s young core didn’t blink.
Game 5: Dort Lights the Fuse
Game 5 felt like déjà vu. Once again, the Thunder found themselves in a hole-down 90-81 early in the fourth quarter, and the offense looked stuck in the mud.
For two long minutes, neither team scored. The Thunder needed a spark.
Enter Luguentz Dort.
Dort, never one to shy away from a big shot, kept firing despite the offensive struggles. And then, the floodgates opened. He hit not one, not two, but three triples in a two-minute flurry that reignited the Thunder and cut the lead to two with just over six minutes left.
That stretch changed everything. OKC rode the momentum and closed out the game strong, stealing Game 5 and flipping the pressure back onto Denver.
For longtime Thunder fans, Dort’s heroics brought back memories of his breakout Game 7 performance in the 2020 bubble against Houston, when he dropped 30 points as a rookie. Back then, he joined elite company-only Kobe Bryant and LeBron James had scored 25+ points in a Game 7 at age 21 or younger. Fast forward, and Dort is still delivering when the lights are brightest.
Game 7: Caruso’s Defensive Clinic on Jokić
By the time Game 7 rolled around, OKC had all the momentum. But no one expected what came next-a 33-point demolition of the Nuggets, powered by a defensive game plan that put Alex Caruso front and center.
Yes, Caruso-the 6’5” guard-was tasked with guarding the 6’11”, 284-pound Nikola Jokić. On paper, it looked like a mismatch. In reality, it was a masterstroke by head coach Mark Daigneault.
Caruso played Jokić with relentless physicality, fronting him on the catch, digging at the ball, and disrupting Denver’s offensive rhythm. He didn’t just survive the matchup-he dominated it.
Jokić finished with 20 points and five turnovers in 36 minutes. More telling?
The Nuggets were outscored by 23 points during his time on the floor. That’s not just a defensive win-that’s a defensive statement.
Caruso’s ability to neutralize the engine of Denver’s offense gave OKC the edge they needed to slam the door shut on the series. It was a bold tactical decision, and it paid off in a big way.
The Bigger Picture
This wasn’t just a playoff series win-it was a defining moment for a young Thunder team learning how to win under pressure. Wallace’s poise, Dort’s fire, and Caruso’s grit all played key roles, but it was the collective resilience and trust in Daigneault’s system that carried them through.
The Thunder didn’t just take down the defending champs-they earned every inch of it. And if this series was any indication, Oklahoma City isn’t just ahead of schedule-they might already be here.